Boot Camp for New Dads     Sat 9 am-noon

2008-09 Classes are filling up fast; register early.  call 288-3431  

July 18 at Henrico Drs. Hospital  Forest Campus Williamsburg Conf. room Sat. 9am-noon. Also:    9/26/09, 11/7/09   1602 Skipwith Road at Forest

August 18, 2009 at Johnston Willis Hosp.(Atrium Auditorium).  Sat. 9am-noon.  1401 Johnston-Willis Dr.  Atrium Auditorium.  Also     8/15/09, 10/10/09.

August 29 at MCV Hospital (VCUHS)  Main Hosp 8 East room 210.    Sat.  9am-noon.  1250 East Marshall Street          Also: 8/29/09, 12/12/09.

Sept 9 Chippenham Hospital   Sat. 9am-noon. 7101 Jahnke Rd just east of Chippenham Pkwy; March 21 only: Kraus Auditorium(off the Tucker Pavilion Lobby entrance).   5/3 and beyond: Main entrance Bosher Auditorium.  Also 9/12/09, 11/21/09.

Oct 24, 2009 VCU Women's Health Center at Stony PointSat. 9am-noon.  9000 Stony Point Pkwy just off Chippenham Pkwy Rt 150. Also:  10/24/09.       

Don't forget to come back as a "Veteran"  You make the program work with your real world experience and advice... you matter to the "Rookies" (  link here)

Directions to the Hospitals link here

 

Photos From June 2009 class at Chippenham (download small pdf file here)

 

Virginia This Morning Boot Camp for New Dads Interview with Coach David Saunders link to CBS 6 clip

 

Virginia This Morning Boot Camp for New Dads Interview with Head Coach LeMar Bowers link here

 

Boot Camp for New Dads is a unique father-to-father, community-based workshop that inspires and equips men to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and personally navigate their transformation into dads.  Veterans (new fathers who bring along their two month old babies) orient rookies (fathers to be) on the joys and realities of fatherhood.   We are Dads helping other men get a good start as New Fathers.     

Parents Magazine Feb 2008: "Most classes focus on Mom, with Dad there for support.  Here's a course that's strictly male - no moms allowed.  In the Boot Camp for New Dads program, veteran dads bring their babies to class to help rookie dads learn burping, changing, and swaddling techniques.  Other topics include:  taking care of Mom after birth, juggling work and family time, and baby bonding.  There's an hour-long discussion at the end so the rookies can ask questions and the veterans can share the lessons they've learned.  "The open conversation helps dads-to-be feel ready to care for their newborn," says Robert Grand, course facilitator for the Boot Camp for New Dads program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, California." 

For all first time expectant dads!   We are getting exceptional feedback from participants from many different backgrounds.:   Awesome said one young professional aged 30.  I wish I had this before I became a dad  said one Veteran who came to share his experience (a local Psychologist also around 30).  I needed this...  a great addition to the parenting classes we attended as a couple.  but, from a man's perspective (a 28 year old carpenter)

     

Rookie holds baby for 1st time while Veteran looks on        New Dads at Henrico Doctors' Hospital

Calling all Veteran Dads... 

We need you to help orient "rookies" now that you are a veteran.  please call 288-3431 to schedule a class or send e-mail to info@    firstthingsrichmond.org  (with no spaces)     

Special discount from Sponsor USA BABY        link here to download

Special discount from Sponsor The Goddard School   link here to download coupon

We partner with Read Aloud Virginia and give a FREE My Little Word book to all participants link here

June 20, 2009  "Celebrate Fatherhood" And reunion for Boot Camp For New Dads graduates and their families at Henrico Doctors Hospital Forest Campus at Skipwith Rd.  We will honor the fathers for father's day; come renew relationships with Facilitators, Veterans and class mates.   There will be a Diaper Derby and activities for children and door prizes.   Refreshments will be served from 10:30 to 1; Presentations at 11:30 by celebrity guests: Virginia State Representative Chris Peace ( a Boot Camp graduate) and  WRVA Morning Show host Jimmy Barrett. Activities for children like a Diaper Derby with prizes and door prizes from Babies-R-Us, USA Baby,  Goddard School (one Month tuition valued over $1,000) and more. RSVP  Let us know you are coming so we can plan refreshments... 288-3431 or e-mail   info@firstthingsrichmond.org

June 15, 2009 TV interview of David Saunders, Boot Camp for New Dads Coach Link here

Chance to win gift certificate to Maggiano's Little Italy or other...

Great idea from one of our Veterans:  start a new baby blog to share your photos and have grandparents and friends go the blog to see your pride & joy!  Examples: coming...

Link to download a flier pdf with 2009 schedule on it

Link to download photos from first Boot Camp with 10 Rookies, three Veterans and two babies (small pdf file)

Over the past decades, in programs across the country thousands of dads have worked to help each other get the best start possible.  This is a “guy thing.”  ... ladies get the morning off to be alone or with friends;  for men only.   When men facing a common challenge get together, a locker room feeling of solidarity develops and we talk frankly about our experiences and what’s on our minds.  And with all the changes and stresses involved in becoming a father, information you can trust is essential.

What you will learn:

We face a broad range of new challenges as we work through perhaps the most fundamental transition in our lives.  There is no one  way or right way to do it.  Everyone’s situation is unique and lots of choices need to be made, so we strive to provide a range of perspectives to help you make informed decisions.

We have learned a great deal from each other and would like to share some highlights with you.  Common challenges include:

  • Caring for babies, particularly when they are crying
  • Caring for moms, particularly when they are crying
  • Working your regular 60 hour week on no sleep
  • Financing a Family
  • Following constant barrage of conflicting advice
  • Mothers-in-law
  • Dropping a diaper into the trash can at 40 feet

And more...

Start up funding was provided by the Community Foundation , Anthem, and Dominion.

Suggested donation  $25,      (Scholarships available upon request)

Space limited;  Register: info@FirstThingsRichmond.org  288-3431 ext 11. 

Leave name, phone , e-mail,  location/date, address, due date and shirt size  (we give you a shirt)

Time Magazine article link here

Directions to the Hospitals:

Henrico Doctors Hospital (Williamsburg Conference Room inside main entrance).    Forest Campus: 1602 Skipwith Road at Forest (South off I - 64 Glenside Exit turn left on Forest at first light )  

Johnston Willis 1401 Johnston-Willis Dr.  Take Powhite to West on Midlothian. Turn Right at Johnston Willis Drive (Hospital sign).  Park in Atrium Lot and enter Atrium Entrance.  Atrium Conference room is on Floor 4.

Chippenham Hospital  7101 Jahnke Rd. Take Rte. 150 Chippenham Parkway to Jahnke Rd going east.  Turn into the first hospital entrance and park in the garage.  Enter Main Lobby and Bosher Auditorium in the lobby.

VCU Stony Point Women's Health Center 9000 Stony Point Pkwy. Take Rte. 150 Chippenham Parkway to Stony Point exit and left at light ( north) on Stony Point Parkway. VCU Womens Center is straight ahead. Normally held in the  Women's clinic conference room or waiting area if it is a large group ; check with information desk.

VCU-MCV  Main Hospital Enter Main Hospital and go up escalator then elevator to Floor 8 east Room 210

 Special thanks to grants from The Community Foundation,  Anthem-Blue Cross-Blue Shield-VA, Dominion, Henrico Doctors Hospital, Chippenham-Johnston Willis Medical Center and USA BABY, The Goddard School, and Trinity UMC .     give here

      

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Registration: Boot Camp for New Dads   

Location/Date:  ________________________  _/  __________

Names:  ________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________

Phone:  ___________________________________  Baby due date ____________________________      

  e-mail:  ____________________________________________________ T-Shirt size _____________

include check for full payment

Mail to:   First Things First  (non Profit 501c3)  5200 Grove Ave Richmond, VA 23226-1633   Or e-mail:  info@FirstThingsRichmond.org    (804) 288-3431 x-11 

Calling all Veteran Dads

Boot Camp needs you to come back and orient the new guys!

Give Mom a morning off … you will be appreciated!

We really need you to come help as a Veteran…

Please RSVP by calling:  e-mail info@    FirstThingsRichmond.org   (with no spaces) or call 288-3431

I look forward to seeing you there,  LeMar     (cell 439-1740)

 

LeMar Bowers Virginia this Morning interview June 12   Link here   Steve Bittner link here

Additional parenting classes are available from Commonwealth Parenting www.commonwealthparentingcenter.org/

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New part time Fatherhood and Urban Programs Coordinator is Mr. LeMar Bowers. Call to schedule as a speaker for your group.

"Hit the Ground Running" a new book for dads and More resources  for fathers at http://www.dadsadventure.com/

Richmond Times Dispatch Front page article June 15:  link here 

Download Henrico Doctors' HospPress release here; 5/22/07 (178 k Word doc)

Link to download photos from first Boot Camp with 10 Rookies, three Veterans and two babies (small pdf file)

link for Boot Camp info from First Things First Chattanooga

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Additional information  www.BCND.org 

Boot Camp for New Dads is a unique father-to-father, community-based workshop that inspires and equips men of all economic levels, ages and cultures to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and personally navigate their transformation into dads. 

Founded in 1990 in California, Boot Camp for New Dads is validated by research and has been named a best practice by many organizations that consider it an exceptional means of supporting dads-to-be and fostering behaviors that greatly benefit children and help prevent a wide range of social ills.  Boot Camp for New Dads has graduated over 150,000 men, making it by far the nation’s largest program for new fathers.  BCND is now offered in 42 states and on U.S. military bases, and is expanding internationally.

Participants in communities with established Boot Camp for New Dads programs report increased confidence in their ability to care for and bond with their baby, to deal with the baby’s  crying, and to understand and care for their partner (the baby’s mother).  While the Boot Camp for New Dads program is designed for all fathers, regardless of marital and economic status, it is achieving very positive outcomes with low income and minority unmarried participants.

Program Components.  The premise of BCND is simple and is validated by research and results: men want to do their best as fathers, are most receptive to support as they become fathers, and learn best from other men already on the job.

To find out more or to register for an upcoming Boot Camp, please call 288-3431 ext 11 

or e-mail to info@    firstthingsrichmond.org  (with no spaces)

Make a donation:  (Operating support still needed; give here)

(Other Future Sites include Richmond Community Hospital and Henrico County Social Services.)

ink for Boot Camp info from First Things First Chattanooga